Dual-use lunch box

ABSTRACT

A dual-use lunch box comprises of an outer rectangular housing unit with one opening supported by five side walls in bond with each other. Herein container railing affixed to two parallel sidewalls serves to support removable food and beverage storage containers. An outer fabric cover with a zippered front flap encloses the rectangular box and is encased with insulation to maintain constant temperature. The outside of said fabric cover includes side pockets or pouches. Two sets of connectors are flanked 90 degrees apart on the outer sidewalls of said fabric cover to fasten a carrying strap in two different positions. The dual-use lunch box is distinctive in that it has a dual function. It allows food and beverage items to be stored in an organized manner in removable storage containers. The other function allows the storage containers to be removed to accommodate larger food items. 
     
       
         
               
             
                   
               
                 References Cited 
               
                 U.S. Patent Documents 
               
                   
               
                   
               
               
               
               
               
             
                   
                 5,181,612 
                 January 1993 
                 Liu 
               
                   
                 5,277,329 
                 January 1994 
                 Pomroy et al. 
               
                   
                 5,485,921 
                 January 1996 
                 Tolendano 
               
                   
                 5,595,302 
                 January 1997 
                 Maydwell et al. 
               
                   
                 5,842,571 
                 December 1998 
                 Rausch 
               
                   
                 5,950,834 
                 September 1999 
                 Woodnorth et al. 
               
                   
                 7,334,684 
                 February 2008 
                 Fontanilla et al.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a dual-use lunch box for the purpose ofstoring food and beverage items. This invention is novel in that theremovable storage units allows for meals to be stored at differenttemperatures in an organized manner, while affording larger items to bestored with removal of the storage units.

2. Prior Art

Multiple lunch boxes (or food carriers) have been designed for thefunction of storing and carrying meals. These lunch boxes have a wideapplication of use that ranges from carrying lunches for children tomeals for adults. These lunch boxes come in various shapes and sizes.

These prior art food carriers have several limitations, including theirinability to adequately organize food and beverage items into individualstorage containers. Furthermore, these food carriers are limited to asingle configuration for storing and carrying meals. It is only thisnovel invention that encompasses a dual-use lunch box function thatdefines its unique facet.

Herein section we describe prior art addressing food storage containers,lunch boxes and the like with emphasis on the differences with our noveldual-use lunch box:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,302 to Maydwell et al. discloses a lunchbox. Howeverthe lunch box of Maydwell does not provide railings attached to thesidewalls to allow removable food and beverage containers to be storedin an organized manner. It also does not provide two sets of connectorsfor a dual carrying option.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,834 to Woodnorth et al. discloses a lunch holder forholding a food product and a beverage container. However, the lunchholder of Woodnorth does not have sliding food and beverage containersthat are removable to allow storage of large food items in addition tostoring food and beverage items in an organized manner in storagecontainers. It also does not provide two sets of connectors for a dualcarrying option.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,329 to Pomroy et al. discloses a lunch holder.However, the lunch holder of Pomroy does not provide side railings tosupport food containers with a beverage storage unit positioned adjacentto the food containers and does not provide two sets of connectors for adual carrying option.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,612 to Liu discloses a compact collapsible lunchbox. However, the lunch box of Liu does not have sliding food andbeverage containers that are removable to allow storage of large fooditems in addition to storing food and beverage items in an organizedmanner in storage containers. It also does not provide two sets ofconnectors for a dual carrying option.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,571 to Rausch discloses a compartmentalizedsoft-sided container. However the compartmentalized soft sided containerof Rausch does not provide a rectangular housing unit with one openingsupported by four side walls in bond with the bottom surface withaffixed railing to support removable food storage containers and doesnot provide two sets of connectors for a dual carrying option.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,921 to Tolendano discloses a lunch box. However, thelunch box of Tolendino does not have sliding food and beveragecontainers that are removable to allow storage of large food items inaddition to storing food and beverage items in an organized manner instorage containers. It also does not provide two sets of connectors fora dual carrying option.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,334,684 to Fontanilla discloses a versatile lunch box.However the lunch box of Fontanilla does not have sliding food andbeverage containers that are removable to allow storage of large fooditems in addition to storing food and beverage items in an organizedmanner in storage containers. It also does not provide two sets ofconnectors for a dual carrying option.

While the above described prior art fulfill their respective, particularobjectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describea dual-use lunch box that allows food and beverage items to be stored inan organized manner in storage containers or allows storage of largeritems with the removal of these storage containers.

Furthermore, the above prior art patents make no provision for a dualcarrying option with two sets of connectors on the outer fabric-coverthat are flanked 90 degrees apart to fasten a carrying strap in twodifferent positions. Therefore, a need exists for a new and improveddual-use lunch box that can be used for storing food with or withoutstorage containers at different temperatures. In this regard, thedual-use lunch box substantially fulfills this need by departing fromthe conventional concepts and designs of the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the limitations of the aforementioned prior art, the presentinvention is a novel dual-use lunch box that overcomes theserestrictions. The purpose of this invention is to add features to theaforementioned prior art to provide a new and enhanced dual-use lunchbox that provides a means to store and transport meals in an organizedmanner. A further novel feature is the dual-use to carry larger food andbeverage items.

This is accomplished by developing a dual-use lunch box with an outerrectangular housing unit comprised of four side walls in bond with abottom surface and an open top surface. Railings are affixed to theinner walls of this outer rectangular unit to support at least one foodstorage unit. An advancement of the dual-use lunch box is the advent ofremovable food storage units. These food storage units are composed ofplastic and are comprised of four side walls affixed to a floor and adetachable top cover. A beverage storage unit similarly is comprised ofplastic that is shaped to accommodate the dimensions of cylindrical orrectangular shaped beverages. The beverage storage unit fits beneath theundersurface of one of the food storage units.

Another novel aspect of the dual-use lunch box is its dual function. Inone embodiment, all the food and beverage storage units are insertedinto the outer rectangular housing unit where the dual-use lunch boxfunctions to store food and beverage items in an organized manner. Eachfood storage unit may store meals at a temperature independent of thetemperature in the adjacent food storage unit. As such, meals of varyingtemperature may be stored within the dual-use lunch box. Beverage itemsmay also be stored at a different temperature than the items stored inthe food storage containers.

In another embodiment, the present invention has a dual configuration toallow larger food and beverage items to be stored. This is achieved byremoving all of the food storage units and the beverage storage unit. Inthis configuration the outer rectangular housing unit is a hollowcontainer that accommodates larger food and beverage items. This allowslarger items to be stored, though all items will be stored at a commontemperature.

The dual-use lunch box is covered by a fabric cover along the externalperimeter of the outer rectangular housing unit. The fabric coverenvelops the exterior of all the side walls and is continuous to form alid cover that overlays the open top area. A zipper connects the frontof the lid cover to the fabric cover on the side walls. On the externalsurface of the fabric cover at least one storage pocket is mounted topermit storage of items including, but not limited to napkins, utensils,and personal items.

A strap is connected to any two parallel side walls on the externalsurface of the fabric cover. The position of the strap isinterchangeable and is dependent on the configuration utilized; thestrap is connected to one set of side walls when all the storage unitsare in place to allow organized storage; the strap is connected toanother set of side walls when all the storage units are removed toallow for larger items to be stored.

The present invention allows food and beverage to be stored andtransported in a dual configuration. The above outline generallydescribed the essential features hereof invention to be readilyunderstood by all. In the subsequent detailed description the presentinvention will be described in intricate detail.

It is to be noted that the detailed explanation of the currentembodiment is not limited by dimensions, arrangement of components ordetails of construction. The terminology employed herein to describethis novel invention should not be regarded as limited as the inventionis capable of other embodiments and functions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This invention has novel features that are set forth in the appendedclaims. The characteristics of this invention will be clarified and thefunction fully understood by reference to the description of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the closed dual-use lunch boxconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the open dual-use lunch box shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the open dual-use lunch box shown in FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the food storage unit of the dual-uselunch box illustrated in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in detail, specifically inreference to the drawings highlighted in FIG. 1-4. The dual-use lunchbox may be embodied in varying forms and sizes and should not beconstrued as limited by the preferred embodiment hereinafter.

The present invention is generally referenced by the numeral 10 anddepicts a dual-use lunch box that contains food and beverage storageunits. This invention is novel in that it has a dual function: functionsto store food items in an organized manner with the usage of the foodand beverage storage units and also retains the function to store largeritems after the removal of said storage units.

In reference to FIG. 1, a novel dual-use lunch box 10 comprises an outerhousing unit 20 having a plurality of side walls 21 and bottom surface22. The housing unit 20 is enclosed in an outer fabric cover 23 thatencases the side walls 21 and bottom surface 22 and continues to formthe lid cover 24 connected to the outer fabric cover 23 by a zipper 40.The outer fabric cover 23 contains two set of connectors 41 mounted 90degrees apart on two parallel side walls 21 and a storage pouch 42mounted on the outer fabric cover 23.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the open dual-use lunch box andillustrates the lid cover 24 unzipped in open configuration, a pluralityof food storage units 30 with attached lid cover 31 and beverage storageunit 32 inserted within the housing unit 20, two set of connectors 41mounted 90 degrees apart on two parallel side walls 21, a storage pouch42 mounted on outer fabric cover 23, and a carrying strap 43 connectedto one of two set of connectors 41 to allow the present invention 10 tobe carried with the lid cover 24 in the side position.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the open dual-use lunch box and depicts theinner housing unit 50 without the food or beverage storage units inconfirmation to accommodate larger food items, a plurality of pairedrailings 51 on the inner side of two parallel side walls 21 to supportthe food storage units, an outer fabric cover 23, a storage pouch 42mounted on the outer fabric cover 23 and a carrying strap 43 connectedto one set of two set of connectors 41 to allow the present invention 10to be carried with the lid cover 24 in the top position.

FIG. 4 further illustrates a perspective view of the removable foodstorage unit 30 that houses food items in an organized manner and a lidcover 31 to secure the stored items. This removable food storage unit 30can be stored within the housing unit or can be removed and stored inthe refrigerator separate from the housing unit.

The dual-use lunch box is novel in its design and utility. The presentinvention has a dual function; it serves to store and transport food andbeverage items organized inside food and beverage containers, whileretaining the capacity to store larger food items with the removal ofthe storage containers. It is this dual function that is novel inconcept and design and which the scope and spirit of the invention iscentered around. This dual utility defines the present invention asnovel, and departs from the design and function of all prior lunch boxdesigns. It is the dual function design that will have an appeal to amyriad of individuals who carry their breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacksto work, school or recreation.

The food and beverage storage units are removable for the purpose of,but not limited to, storing food items within these units in arefrigerator at home or work, while permitting the facile exchange ofthese storage units from the refrigerator to the dual-use lunch box.This utility allows the storage of cold food items; however, its utilityis not limited by temperature as hot items can also be stored within thestorage units. Furthermore, the novel design of the present inventionallows food items of varying temperature to be stored within the housingunit. For example, cold food items can be stored in one food storageunit, while hot food items can be stored in a separate food storageunit; both maintaining their varied temperature.

The dual-use lunch box has been described with respect to a specificembodiment, but it should be noted that the present invention may assumevariations in shape, size, form, color, material, function, and mannerof operation, assembly and use. It will be appreciated that thesemodifications, including but not limited to the use of varying material,ranging from plastic to another sturdy material, may be used for thehousing unit, food and beverage storage units by those skilled in theart, without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. The appended claims were intended to cover all suchmodifications and changes that encompass the scope of the presentinvention.

1. A dual-use lunch box, comprising: an outer rectangular housing unitwith one opening, wherein said four side walls bond to said bottomsurface; wherein at least one detachable food storage unit is insertedon said railing along side walls; a beverage storage unit adjacent tothe underside of said food storage unit; an outer fabric cover enclosessaid outer container with extension onto said top surface; at least onestorage pocket is along the outer fabric of said cover, and a strapconnected to outer surface of said fabric cover.
 2. The dual-use lunchbox of claim 1, wherein said outer rectangular housing unit comprised offour side walls in bond with bottom surface.
 3. The dual-use lunch boxof claim 1, wherein said sidewalls have at least one set of railingsaffixed to the inner surface to support food storage units.
 4. Thedual-use lunch box of claim 1, wherein said removable food storage unitslides in and out of said railings.
 5. The dual-use lunch box of claim1, wherein said removable beverage storage can be frozen to allowbeverage containers to remain cold prior to insertion into saidrectangular housing unit.
 6. The dual-use lunch box of claim 4, whereinsaid food storage units comprise of a rectangle shape with four sidewalls in bond with bottom surface; a detachable top cover attaches tosaid four side walls; said food storage units stem from plastic that canwithstand cold and warm temperature; said food storage units aremicrowavable safe, washable and reusable.
 7. The dual-use lunch box ofclaim 4, wherein said food storage unit accommodates items of varyingsize, shape and temperature.
 8. The dual-use lunch box of claim 4,wherein said food storage units are inserted into said rectangularhousing unit to organize food items; said food storage units areremovable to provide space to accommodate larger items, including butnot limited to food items.
 9. The dual-use lunch box of claim 5, whereinsaid beverage storage unit in an accommodating beverage shape; saidbeverage storage unit stems from plastic that can withstand cold andwarm temperature; said beverage storage unit is washable and reusable.10. The dual-use lunch box of claim 5, wherein said beverage storageunit accommodates beverages in cylindrical or rectangular shapedcontainers of varying sizes.
 11. The dual-use lunch box of claim 5,wherein said beverage storage unit inserts adjacent to the underside ofsaid food storage unit; said beverage storage unit is removable inconjunction with said food storage units to allow storage of largeritems including but not limited to food items.
 12. The dual-use lunchbox, comprising: an outer fabric cover that envelops the outer surfaceof said outer rectangular housing unit along all four walls and floor incontinuity with a top lid cover, the said top lid cover will mount onthe open end of the said outer rectangular container; the said topsurface cover connects to the four walls via a zipper; at least onestorage pocket is mounted along the outer surface of the fabric cover; astrap connects to two of four connectors to said outer fabric cover fortransport.
 13. The dual-use lunch box of claim 12, wherein at least onesaid storage pocket is made of fabric mounted on said outer fabriccover, the top boundary is secured by, but not limited to an elasticedge or zipper.
 14. The dual-use lunch box of claim 12, wherein at leastone said storage pocket houses items including, but not limited toutensils, napkins, wallet and personal objects.
 15. The dual-use lunchbox of claim 12, wherein said strap is connected to any two parallelside walls of said outer fabric cover; the connection of said strap isinterchangeable to correspond with whether or not the said food andbeverage storage units are inserted or removed.